WerteInitiative e.V. is continuing its series „360° – Securing Jewish life in the free democracy in Germany”. On the occasion of International Women’s Day on 8 March, WerteInitiative e.V., the Axel Springer Freedom Foundation, Frauen für Freiheit e. V. and the American Jewish Committee – Berlin offered Israeli women a platform in the federal capital in order to make their voices audible here too. Many people and organisations committed to feminism and equality regrettably remained silent about the massacre by the radical Islamic Hamas on 7 October, despite the systematic sexualised violence committed by the terrorists. And this although women’s organisations in particular are alert to gender-specific violence as a weapon of war. The silence of many (international) women’s organisations, first and foremost that of UN Women, which after the Hamas massacre needed more than 50 days to bring itself to make a half-hearted statement, gave the impression of a withdrawal of solidarity from Jewish women, Israel and the Jewish community, who became the victims of the largest pogrom since the Shoah. In the most extreme form of this antisemitic and misogynistic withdrawal of solidarity, organisations that see themselves as progressive have even celebrated the crimes of Hamas as resistance, denied them and refused to believe the survivors – quite simply because they are Jews.
For those affected, alongside legal steps to punish the misogynistic dimension of this warfare, women’s solidarity in various forms and forums is also an important response to the horrific misogynistic crimes. Those affected by sexualised violence must be given the opportunity to be heard about their experiences and to be affirmed in their dignity.At the beginning of our event we therefore spoke with Chen Malka, a survivor of the Nova festival. This was followed by a discussion with the following guests, in order to put into context the consequences of the sexualised violence committed by the terrorists and its political effects:
- Rebecca Schönenbach (Frauen für Freiheit e. V.)
- Miki Roitman (lawyer, women’s rights activist in Israel)
- Yael Sherer (Israeli activist, expert on healthcare with a focus on sexual violence)
- Dr. Dr. Jan Ilhan Kizilhan (expert on transcultural psychosomatics)
Moderation: Rixa Fürsen (editor, WELT-TV)
